All Things Considered

The great vaccine ... bake off ... has begun

By Nurith Aizenman • 7 hours ago

Fans of the television series The Great British Bake Off have long marveled at the skill contestants show during the dreaded "technical challenge" — for which they are given a basket with all the ingredients needed to make a highly unusual dish but a set of instructions that are often as vague as, "Bake until ready." Now a team of scientists at a pharmaceutical startup in South Africa is essentially confronting the same type of test — except the stakes are life and death.

Netflix employees call for accountability

By Ari Shapiro, Vincent Acovino & Sarah Handel • 8 hours ago

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Many wealthy countries have vaccinated more than half of their populations. In Africa, just 5% of people have gotten the full dose. Advocates for greater access say a major reason is that African nations have to rely on manufacturers on other continents, where they have little clout. Now a pharmaceutical startup in South Africa has been enlisted in an effort to change that. NPR's Nurith Aizenman reports.

Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, is a city with 2 identities — that often clash

By Stephen Bisaha • 8 hours ago

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Many wealthy countries have vaccinated more than half of their populations. In Africa, just 5% of people have gotten the full dose. Advocates for greater access say a major reason is that African nations have to rely on manufacturers on other continents, where they have little clout. Now a pharmaceutical startup in South Africa has been enlisted in an effort to change that. NPR's Nurith Aizenman reports.

VA Secretary visited LA to talk about housing plans to combat veteran homelessness

By Anna Scott • 8 hours ago

SARAH MCCAMMON, HOST:

The idea that no U.S. military veterans should live on the streets of America is the rare cause that's popular across the political spectrum. And over the last decade, federal and local governments have been able to reduce the number of homeless veterans in the country by almost half. But as Anna Scott from member station KCRW reports, the problem is far from over.

Black and Latino families are bearing the weight of the pandemic's economic toll

By Laurel Wamsley • 9 hours ago

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The pandemic is taking an uneven economic toll on Americans. Black and Latino families have taken the biggest hits. As NPR's Laurel Wamsley reports, many have seen their hard-won financial progress swept away.

Everything old, new and AWOL in the NBA

By Sarah McCammon, Gabe O'Connor & Christopher Intagliata • 9 hours ago

SARAH MCCAMMON, HOST:

Most of Texas' new districts are majority white, diluting power of voters of color

By editor • 9 hours ago

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

An Unlikely WNBA Champ

By Sarah McCammon, Gabe O'Connor & Sarah Handel • Oct 18, 2021

SARAH MCCAMMON, HOST:

Basically no one picked the Chicago Sky to win the WNBA title when the playoffs started last month. The Sky barely broke even in the regular season, so they were a long shot, to say the least. But last night on ESPN, the Chicago Sky wrapped up a month of proving just about everyone wrong.

Fewer cars on the road during lockdowns was good news for frogs and salamanders

By Sarah McCammon, Ari Shapiro, Alejandra Marquez Janse & Christopher Intagliata • Oct 18, 2021

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Wildlife biologist Greg LeClair has been obsessed with amphibians since he was a kid, when one rainy day, a black and yellow spotted salamander stumbled into his driveway in Maine.

With many veterans waiting for care, the VA may change how it uses outside doctors

By Quil Lawrence • Oct 18, 2021

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Supply chain problems? Have no fear, we've got DIY Halloween costume ideas

By editor • Oct 17, 2021

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Halloween is two weeks away, and some of our favorite trick-or-treaters already know exactly what they will be on the big day.

(SOUNDBITE OF MONTAGE)

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD #1: A dark ringmaster.

Lawyer says NFL needs to release Washington Football Team investigation findings

By editor • Oct 17, 2021

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Jamie Foxx, out with a new book, talks childhood, therapy and parenting

By editor • Oct 17, 2021

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Fear, panic and anger grips Beirut residents who want to see accountability

By editor • Oct 16, 2021

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

To improve wildfire resistance, researchers look to beavers

By Alex Hager • Oct 16, 2021

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

'Best schools' rankings are meaningless — and harmful, critic says

By editor • Oct 16, 2021

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

High schoolers are training to drive 18-wheelers amid a shortage of truck drivers

By Jonathan Franklin • Oct 16, 2021

When thinking about the trucking industry, the first thing that comes to mind about its drivers is that they tend to be older — industry experts say the average trucker is 54 years old. But given the nationwide truck driver shortage, that's now changing.

A high school in California is now training teens to enter the industry through its truck driving school program.

A Capitol Police officer is accused of telling a Jan. 6 suspect to hide evidence

By Tom Dreisbach • Oct 15, 2021

A veteran officer with the U.S. Capitol Police was arrested Friday for allegedly encouraging a suspect in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot to hide evidence of their involvement in the attack. He is facing two counts of obstruction of justice, and has been placed on administrative leave while the case is ongoing.

The officer, Michael Angelo Riley, has worked for the Capitol Police for nearly 25 years, the department told NPR, and most recently served as a technician with the K-9 unit.

All Things Considered

Weekdays, 4pm to 7pm and Weekends 4pm to 5pm

The great vaccine ... bake off ... has begun

Netflix employees call for accountability

Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, is a city with 2 identities — that often clash

VA Secretary visited LA to talk about housing plans to combat veteran homelessness

Black and Latino families are bearing the weight of the pandemic's economic toll

Everything old, new and AWOL in the NBA

Most of Texas' new districts are majority white, diluting power of voters of color

An Unlikely WNBA Champ

Fewer cars on the road during lockdowns was good news for frogs and salamanders

With many veterans waiting for care, the VA may change how it uses outside doctors

Supply chain problems? Have no fear, we've got DIY Halloween costume ideas

Lawyer says NFL needs to release Washington Football Team investigation findings

Jamie Foxx, out with a new book, talks childhood, therapy and parenting

Fear, panic and anger grips Beirut residents who want to see accountability

To improve wildfire resistance, researchers look to beavers

'Best schools' rankings are meaningless — and harmful, critic says

High schoolers are training to drive 18-wheelers amid a shortage of truck drivers

A Capitol Police officer is accused of telling a Jan. 6 suspect to hide evidence

Katie Couric's ethics are questioned for concealing Justice Ginsburg's comments

Anthology 'The Matter of Black Lives' reflects on America's past to guide its future

How insights from 2020's election officials could help safeguard future elections

Novelist Margaret Verble on history, family and identity

Democrats haggle over how to scale back their spending plan to win over centrists

FDA advisers recommend Moderna booster shot for at-risk adults

President of truck driving school says driver shortage is causing supply chain issues

What the opening of the U.S.-Mexico border means to one reporter

WHO's new team will investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic

Gas, food and transportation network shortages all helped drive up consumer prices

American Indicators check-in: A machine company faces supply chain disruptions

U.S. secretary of state and Israeli foreign minister talk stalled Iran nuclear deal

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